Section: Main Well

San Francisco’s Joe Staley and Kansas City’s Eric Fisher are starting left tackles from Central Michigan who are former first-round picks. And they wish they didn’t have this in common: They’re both in the midst of subpar seasons. …

Some star power will be lacking Sunday. It appears a pair of Pro Bowlers, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and Chiefs safety Eric Berry, will be sidelined when San Francisco hosts Kansas City at Levi’s Stadium. …

Niners cornerback Perrish Cox began the season as a backup who hadn’t started a game since his rookie season in 2010. Three games into his fill-in role for injured starter Tramaine Brock, though, the reserve has been really, really good. …

Chiefs coach Andy Reid had done his homework before Kansas City traded two high-end draft picks to the 49ers for quarterback Alex Smith last year. Reid, then with the Eagles, had studied Smith when he played at Utah and had seen his career slowly blossom from his vantage point on the opposite sideline: Smith started games against the Eagles in 2006, ‘09, ’10 and ’11. …